Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker has placed a $1 million wager on Super Bowl LX, even as the NBA faces mounting scrutiny from federal investigators probing alleged game manipulation and illegal sports betting.
Booker, who recently became a fifth-time NBA All-Star, placed the seven-figure bet through Fanatics Sportsbook on the Seattle Seahawks to cover a –3.5 point spread against the New England Patriots. The Super Bowl is scheduled for 8 February at Levi’s Stadium. If the Seahawks cover, Booker stands to win approximately $1.8 million.
The high-profile wager comes as Americans are expected to wager a record $1.76 billion on Super Bowl LX through legal sports betting channels, as per estimates released by the American Gaming Association (AGA). The AGA said the figure would mark the largest amount ever legally wagered on the Super Bowl.
Booker operating within NBA gambling rules
Under current NBA regulations, Booker is permitted to wager on NFL games. Under current NBA rules, players like Devin Booker are generally permitted to wager on other sports, such as the NFL. The NBA’s rules strictly prohibit players, coaches, referees, and team personnel from betting on any NBA-related competition, including regular-season games, playoffs, and exhibitions.
Booker’s legal bet stands in stark contrast to a growing series of gambling scandals that have engulfed the league over the past two years. The NBA has already issued a lifetime ban to former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for providing insider information to repay gambling debts, and multiple current and former players remain under federal investigation.
Federal probe expands to additional NBA games
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York are now examining additional NBA games for potential manipulation, according to statements made by government attorneys during recent court proceedings, as reported by several media outlets. The investigation initially centered on seven games named in an October indictment but has since widened as authorities uncover what they allege is a broader insider betting ring.
According to The Athletic, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Raptors center Jontay Porter are among those charged in connection with the scheme. Prosecutors allege that players and associates used non-public information, including early exits from games, to influence player prop bets placed by third parties.
Devin Booker put 1 million dollars for the Seattle Seahawks to cover the spread👀🤯 pic.twitter.com/6S0qrZb8PH
— Trev🗣️ (@Boisabronco) January 29, 2026
Rozier, one of six defendants indicted, is accused of sharing confidential information with a friend prior to a March 2023 game while he was with the Charlotte Hornets. That information was allegedly passed along to bettors who placed wagers on his in-game statistical performance. Rozier has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing.
Porter, charged separately, pleaded guilty in July 2024 to removing himself early from two games during the 2023–24 season. He was previously banned for life by the NBA and is awaiting sentencing. Four additional individuals were arrested for their roles in betting on Porter’s performances, with three entering guilty pleas.
First sentence handed down as investigation continues
Last week, one of those individuals, Timothy McCormack, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after admitting to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors said McCormack placed bets on games involving both Rozier and Porter and may have participated in similar conduct involving other games now under investigation.
“The government has ongoing investigations,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney David Berman during McCormack’s sentencing. “And our understanding is the defendant has conducted himself in similar manners in other instances as well.”
Court filings show McCormack wagered thousands of dollars on several NBA games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Federal authorities have not disclosed how many additional games are currently under review.
Cases pile as scrutiny intensifies
Separately, former Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks guard Malik Beasley remains under federal investigation for potential illegal sports betting. Beasley, currently a free agent, has not played this season after teams became aware of the probe, which reportedly derailed a potential $42 million contract.
“To my understanding, he’s still under federal investigation, but there’s been no recent direction on what terms they’re looking at,” Beasley’s attorney Steve Haney told The Athletic. “At this point, Malik is stuck in this investigative purgatory.”
Stay ahead of iGaming’s biggest stories with SiGMA’s Top 10 News countdown. The world’s biggest iGaming community brings you weekly insights and subscriber-only offers. Join HERE today.
